Printing machine



June 3, 1930.

| H. ZEUN 1,761,380

PRINTING MACHINE Filed Dec. 23, 1924 w. h. N

10 Sheets-Sheet l June 3, 1930. H. ZEUN PRINTING MACHINE Filed Dec. 23,1924 10 Sheets-Sheet 2 June 3, 1930. L. H. ZEUN PRINTING MACHINE l0sheets sheet 3 Filed Dec. 25, 1924 m M m l W I w l 13 II I I R I H w 3 w2 RN 1 III ,fiw *N k fi June 3, 1930. L. H. ZEUN 1,

PRINTING MACHINE Filed Dec. 23, 1924 10 Sheets-Sheet 4 v Qnwntm awe cumJune 3, 1930.

L. H. ZEUN PRINTING MACHINE F-iled Dec. 23, 1924 10 Sheets-Sheet 5gwuentoz June 3, 1930.

L. H. ZEUN PRINTiNG MACHINE 1o Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed bee. 25,. 1924 June3,1930. L, HZEUN 1,761,380

PRINTING MACHINE Filed Dec. 23, 1924 10 Sheets-Sheet 7 June 3', 1930.LHZEUN 1,761,380

PRINTING MACHINE Filed Dec. 23, 1924 10 Sheets-Sheet 8 \Id ///7/// k 8162.2-; E uixj:

v I I June 3, 1930. H. ZEUN PRINTING MACHINE Filed Dec. 23, 1924 10Sheets-Sheet 10 ull! 5 PA/ and plates while other 40 provision of animprove Patented June 3, 193i) PATENT OFFiCE LOUIS H. ZEUN, F BALTIMORE,MARYLAND PRINTING MACHINE Application filed December 23, 1924. SerialNo. 757,646. I

This invention-relates to certain new and useful improvements inprinting machines and the process of printing, and has for 1tsparticular object the provision of improve- 6 ments in printing anddevices for reproducing a multiplicity of prints arranged in symmetricalrelation from a single negative.

The type of printing machines, of which my invention is an improvement,are old 10 and massive, requiring much manual labor to operate andextremely trying on the operators. It is my aim to provide apoweroperated means and controls of the same to overcome many of thedifficulties of 0perl ation and to provide further a new improvement inthe existing type of machines and in the process of printing.

' Another object of my invention is to provide power-actuated means forposition- 2 ing a negative on this type of machine.

,A further object of my invention is to provide power-actuated means forpositioning the plate operated upon.

further object of my invention is the provision of a locking means toprevent inadvertent movement of the plate while other parts of themachine are being operated upon.

A further object of my invention is the provision of a locking means tolock the negative while'other parts of the machine are being operatedupon.

A further object of my invention is the provision of a means to lock thenegative parts of the machine are being operated.

A further object of myinvention is the mounting of a plate in animproved manner.

A further object of'm invention is the method of holding the plate andits mountings while being 0 erated upon.

A urther object of m invention is the provisionof means of uniformlycontacting v4 said plate with the negative.

A further object of my invention is the provisionpf electric motors in amachine of the character described, which motors perform variousrequired functions withv a minimum number of operations, and theplurality of functions of opposing characters and arranged at differenttimes to function selectively or individually and locking all Ipthermovements in' accordance there wit With these and other objects in view,my invention consists of the prescribed methods employed, combinationand arrangement of systems, ap aratus and means, as hereinafter specically provided, illustrated in the accompan ing drawings, whereas isshown the pre erred embodiment of my invention, it being understood thatcertain changes, variations and modifications may be resorted to, whichcome within the scope of the claims hereto appended.

Figure 1' is a plan view of a printing machine as made in accordancewith m invention and illustrating'the negative s ide and curtain inprinting position.-

Figure 2, is a longitudinal, sectional view in elevation of the machineshown in Figure 1- taken through line 2-2 of Figure 1 with the negativeslide and curtain in non-print ing position.

igure 3 taken through line 33 of Figure 1.

is. a transverse sectional view Figure 4 is an enlarged, longitudinal,sectional view taken on line 4-4lof Figure 3. Figure 5 is an enlargedview in section taken on a line 5-5 of Figure 2, looking in thedirection of the arrow and particularly I showing the plate-carryingframe.

1 Figure 6 is'an enlarged detailed view in mentary view taken on line 88of Figure 1,

particularly showin the controlling means for the negative slide andoperating means. Figure 9 is a side View in elevation of the operatingmotor and mechanism for op-. crating the plate holder in a longitudinaldirection, which also operates the negative slide. The same Figure 9 isa view representing a single unit for operating the plate holdertransversally and the raising and m lowering of the plate-holding frame,the

/ pglilme numerals representing the latter ctions.

Figure is a in Figure 9. Figure 11 is an enlarged view in section of theindexing handle and control switch,

illustrated in Figure 9.

Figure 12 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line 12-12 of Figure 2,looking in the direction of the arrow and showing particularly thenegative slide, the stop for the same, and the means of supporting theour tain.

Figure 13 illustrates the fastening of the curtain to the negativeslide.

Figure 14 is an enlarged, sectional view taken on line 14-14 of Figure2, and,

Figures 15 and 16 are diagrammatic views of the wiring control.

Referring to thedrawings, the numeral 1 indicates a table or bed,preferably made of cast iron or other metal suitable for the purpose andsupported on legs 2, and this table is rovided with a central opening 3,throu h w ch the exposure of a negative can be made.

Slidably mounted upon the table to definitely travel longitudinallythereon, is a negative slide 4, which is adapted to be moved to adefinite position over the opening 3 and back to its initial positionsothat a ne ative 6 may be changed.

ecured to t e negative slide 4 is a curtain 5, and this curtain 5 freelymoves with the negative slide 4 and protects the rear end of thenegative slide from light, and the other end being protected by aninserted deck in that portion of the table 1. The "negative 6 is themeans through which exposures are made and it is mounted on the negativeslide 4 in the usual manner.

A sensitized printing plate 7 is rovided and this plate is mounted on arub er-coated board 8' by rubber cement or other suitable means, andthis board 8 is secured to a frame 9 by bolts or other suitable fasten-1ng means. The frame 9 is secured in a plate-holding frame 10, in whichoperates the board-holding bar 11, and to this bar 11 s secured theboard-holding'frame 9 by screws or other suitable fastening means (seeFigure 5); and the opposite sides of this board frame 0 rate in a groove12.

The supporting 'ar 11 is provided with plan view of that shown v 55rack-teeth 13 on its central portion, (11nd.

these rack-teeth mesh with the pinion 14 mounted on a vertical shaft14*, and this affords an auxiliary hand adjusting means for the platewhen in ion itudinal movement.

The plate-holding rame 10 is suspended by a plurality of bearing boxes15, (see Figures l, 3, 4, and 7), in which boxes operate cam 16, whichconstruction provides a positive means of vertically operating theplateholding frame 10 relative to the table 1.

The plate-holding frame 10 is supported by a top frame 17 by means ofguides 18 and the cams 16, and this top frame 17 is suppcfrted by abottom frame 20.

Secured to the plate-holding frame 10 are compensating guides 19 on twosides thereof, and these guides 19 .operate against guides 18, so as totake up any movement that may be between the frames, the other two sidesremaining in direct contact with their respective supports.

Mounted on the top frame 17 are shafts 21, on which shafts are securedthe cams 16,

and these shafts are provided with worm gears 22, which ears are drivenby suitable worms 23 and tlie worms 23 are driven by spline shafts 24,as will be clearly shown from the drawings. The cams 16 operate insuitable bearing boxes 15, which bearing boxes are constructed to allowfor considerable movement therein.

The bottom frame 20 is supported on and operates over table 1', and thisframe is guidedin' the usual Way by a guide 25 on one side, and hasmounted on its free side,

rollers 26, and this frame is movable longitudinally over said table byany suitable means such as a screw 27 operating in a nut 28. The bottomframe 20' may be locked in an fixed position on table 1 by means of a rowhich is secured at one end to the table by suitable fastening meanssuch as is shown at 30. This rod is slidably mounted on brackets 31carried by'the bottom frame 20 and is provided with a locking means 32,which permits the frame to be locked in any fixed position relative tothe table.

The top frame 17, previously described, operates on the bottom frame 20and is guided thereon in the usual way by guides 33 on one side androllers 34 on the opposite side, and this frame is operated on saidbottom frame in a transverse direction by any desirable means, such as ascrew 35 and a nut 36.

The top frame 17 can be locked in any fixed position relative to thebottom frame 20, by means of a rod 37, which is secured at one end tothe top frame 17 and movable therewith, and this rod 37 operates througha bracket 38 which is secured to the bottom frame 20, and this bracketis provided with a suitable'locking means 39 so as to lock the frame infixed position, as described.

Arranged below the central opening 3 of the table 1 is the usual lightshutter 40 and this opening is located below the negative of a rack 44and pinion 45, said pinion being operated by hand by means of a shaft46. The beam 43 has operatively mounted thereon a pressure head 47through the medium of a knuckle joint 48 and a plunger,

49, which plunger operates between adjustable definitelimits by means oflinks 50, bell crank 51, connecting rods 52, and bell crank 53. The bellcrank 53 is provided (with a handle which is mounted on adjustablebearings 54, which bearings are adjusted by means of an adjusting screw55 and nut 56, said bell crank 53 being suitably mounted on beam 43.

Secured to the negative slide is an endless chain 57 operating over aloose sprocket wheel 58 and a driving sprocket Wheel 59.

- The sprocket wheel 59 is mounted on a shaft 60 and by means of areduction worm gear is driven by sprocket 61, which sprocket may bemanually operated when desired by applying a crank to the shaft uponwhich it is mounted. The sprocket wheel 61 is driven by sprocket wheel62 carried on shaft 63, and sprocket wheel 64 is mounted on a clutchsleeve 65, which drivesshaft 63 by means of clutch 66 operated by handle71.

The sprocket wheel 64 is driven by sprocket wheel 67 mounted on shaft68, which shaft is driven through suitablereduction gearing 69 by themotor 7 O, as will be clearly seen in Figures 9 and 10.

The bottom frame 20 is operated-by screw 27, which screw is driven bygears 7 2, which gears are in turn driven by clutch gear 73 looselymounted on shaft 68 and operated by clutch 74 carried on thesame shaft,and this clutch 74 is engaged and disengaged by a lever 75. The screw 27is also provided with a hand-operated means 76.

The plate-holding frame 10 can be vere tically operated by means of thespline shaft 24, which shaft is driven 1 by a sprocket wheel and clutch64 and 66*, which are similar to sprocket 64, clutch sleeve and clutch66, (See Figure 10), and these two driving mechanisms are substantiallyidentical. The spline shaft 24 is also provided with means of manualoperation 77, which is a square-ended shaft to which a handle may. beattached.

-The top frame 17 is operated transversely by means of a screw 35 andnut 36, and this -screw and nut are similarly operated to screw 27 by amotor. and this screw 35 is also manually operated in a manner simi larto screw 27. I '3 Referring to Figure 11,-,either shaft 27 or 35,depending upon which unit is considered, is attached to operating crank95 this crank carrying operating handle 76 and index pin 96,commutators8l and 82, and

switches 1' or 2, which also depends upon which unit is beingconsidered. 1

The index pin 96 operatively registers an 4 near each edge. Secured tothe levers 88 and '89, near the ends are adjusting screws 91 and 92, andthese screws bear. against the back end of the negativeslide when thesame is in position and lock it therein. The shaft isoperat-ed by alever 93 and an adjustable connecting rod 94, and a crank attached to ahand lever 87.

Having thus described the principal mechanical features of a printingmachine involving my improvements, I will now endeavor to particularlypoint out the various controls ofthe machine and details concerning thesame.

Referring to the negative slide control, and presuming the slide is in aprinting position, the following conditions must exist before it can bemoved:

' (a) The plate-holding frame 10 must be up a (6) Clutch 74 foroperating screw 27 must be out, or free;

(0), Locking device must be released;

-(cl) Clutch 66 must be in;

(e) The movement of the carriage out or back to charging position isthen controlled by a reverse starting switch.

(f) To return the negative slide to printing position a similarcondition must exist, except the forward starting switch is used Thesevarious switches and stations will be described later.

To operate the bottom frame the following conditions must exist:

j (a Index pin 96 must be free of dial 97; (b Plate-holding frame 10must be up;

(0) Locking means 32 must be released;

d) Pressure head 47 must be up;

5). Clutch 66 must be out, or open;

' (7). Clutch 74 must be in. Then, by pushing either the forward orreverse starting switches,-the.-fr ame may be operated in eitherdirection.

To operate the top frame 17 the following conditions must exist:

(a)v The index pin 96 must be free of "the dial 97 Y for negative slideico The plate-holding frame 10 may be oper-' ated vertically, if thefollowing conditions exist:

((1) Clutch 74, which operates screw 35, must be out, or open;

b) Pressure head47 must'be up 0) Clutch 66 must be in, or engaged;

then the pressure head may be raised, or

lowered, as desired, by the forward or reverse starting switches.

The various functions above enumerated are erformed manually, themachine automatically locking the various parts .until the conditionsenumerated exist; and, further, the various parts are automaticallystopped at the limit of various travels.

I will now proceed to more particularly point out the automatic featuresinvolved in the above in the interlocking devices.

In the following description, when I use the term switch and give it anumeral, the same may be considered as a station, and is represented bya circle on the various views,

and is mechanically or manually operated as shown on the various viewsto accomplish the desired condition.

Referring now more particularly to Figs. 16, 78 and 79 are the mainlineor busses. In order to operate negative slide 4, switch 14 is closed,switches 15 and 16' are 0 en, allowing 17 and 18, to control the limitedmovements of the negative slide out and in respectively; closing switch14 shunts the circuit of electridswitches 2', 7 and 8, and using onlyswitches 3' and 4' as a controlling means in that circuit. The reversingof the motor is controlled by a forward and reversin switch, illustratedas at 80 in Figure 16. o operate the bottom frame, switches 15 and 16must be closed; switch 14 must 8', to control this circuit. The sameforward and reverse switch 80 is used for operating this frame. Tooperate the plate-holdin frame 10, the switch 13' must be close switches11 and 12 must beopen, allowin switches 9' and 10 to control the upperand lower limits, respectively, of that frame. By closing switch 13, theswitches 1, 3, 5 and 6 are shunted, allowing this frame to be controlledswitches 4 and 13', only in this circuit. The up and down movements ofthis frame is controlled by a forward and reverseswitch 80*. To operatethe top frame, switches 11' and 12 must be closed, switch 13 must be 0en,

allowing switches 1', 3', 4, 5i and 6 to 'ing frame 10 and is opened b afi control the movement of this frame. The movement of this frame in aforward or reverse direction is controlledby the forward and reverseswitch 80.

I will now describe the switches and their operation.

Switches 1 and '2' are alike; they are the index pin handle switches, asshown on Figure 11. This handle is attached to thescrews 27 and 35, andrevolves with them, and in order to maintain a circuit while inoperation suitable commutators 81 and 82, with brushes 81 and 82, arerovided, with stationary terminals 81 an 82. Switches 3, 4', 5', s, 9',10', 11', 12313314315, 16',17, and 18, are constructed to open by thelimit of movement of the movin parts to which they are attached, andwhifia varying in the detailed construction, are old and substantiallyalike and may be seen in the various views in more or less detail, andconcerning which I claim nothing er-se.

The switches 6 and 7 are attached to the lockin means 39 and 30, and areclosed upon t e release of the locking means. Detail is not shown, as Iclaim nothing concerning these particular switches in construction.

The switch 3 is attached to the plate-holding frame 10 and is opened bythe cam carried by the top frame 17 as the plate-holding frame 10descends. The switch 4! is attached to the pressure beam 43 and isopened by a cam attached to plunger 49 and is opened when the pressurehead 47 descends.

Switch 5' is attached to the bottom frame 20, and is adapted to open atthe limit of travel in either direction from the top frame 17 by thecams attached thereto.

Switch 6' is secured to the bottom frame 20 and is opened when thelocking means 39 of the top frame 17 is closed.

Switch 7 is attached to table 1 and is opened when locking means 32. forthe bottom frame 20 is closed.

A switch 8 is attached to table 1 and is opened at the limit of travelin either direction of the bottom frame 20 by the cams at- .tachedthereto. be open, allowing switches 2', 3', 4', 7 and The switch 9' issecured to the plate-holdr, or in, attached to cam shaft 21 w en theplateolding frame, 10 has reached the limit of its down position.

A switch 10' is secured'to the plate-holding frame 10 and'is opened by ascrew attached to the bracket fastened to the top frame 17. This switchis opened when the plate-holding frame reaches its upward, or

top limit.

The switches 11' and 12'. are operated by the cam attached to the bar85, as shown in Figure 10, and are opened when the lateholding frame 10is raised and lowere and are closed when the top frame is operated.

Switch 13' isoperated by a cam on the bar 85, as shown in Figure '10,and is closed when the plate-holding frame 10 is raised and lowerd, andisopened when thetop frame is operated.

Switch 14 is operated inthesame manner as switch 13, and is closed whenthe negative slide is operated longitudinally, either in or out, andopened when the bottom frame is operated.

The switches 15' and 16 are operated in the same manner as switches 11and 12 and are opened when the negative slide is moved either in or out,and closed when bottom frame is operated.

A switch 17 is secured to table 1 and it is used for locking thenegative slide in its printing position, and to stop the movement of thenegative slide at the limit of its travel to its initial position.

A switch 18' is secured to the underside of the table 1 at a point nearthe central opening 3 and is opened when the negative slide reaches itsprinting position. by means of a cam attached thereto.

Referring now to Figure 10, handle 71 is mounted on shaft 83, whichshaft operates lever 84, operating sliding bar 85, sliding bar 85operates to open various switches, as heretofore described. It alsooperates clutch interlock 86 so that said clutch 74 locked open when thesliding bar 85 closes switch 13' in one unit or 14' in the other unit,and opens switches 11' and 12 in one unit and switches 15 and 16 in theother unit.

The operation of my invention is as follows; j I

Assuming that the pressure head 47 and plate-holding frame 10 are up,bottom frame 20 is at the extreme limit of travel on the side oppositefrom its drive; top frame 17 is at the limit of its travel on eitherside, negative slide 4 is in its initial or non-printing position, andthe light shutter 40 under the edges down with the central 0 ening 3 isclosed.

The negative 6 is then placed in the negative slide in its properposition and securely fastened by the usual means, such as glueing ummedpaper to the glass plate.-- The negatlve slide is then moved to its printing position by operating the. motor through'the forward startingswitch and clutch 66. When it reaches the rinting ",position overcentralopening 3, tie limit {switch 18. automatically cuts off the current andstops the motor; \the negative slide 4 is then looked at the limit ofits movement by means ofthe hand lever 87.

When the hand lever 87 is in locked position the switch 17 is open, thispreventing the operation of the motor in a reverse direction. Switch 18'is opened when the negative slide 4 reaches its printing position andthis prevents .the operation of the motor in a forward direction.-'Asensitized plate is prepared and attached to the rub er-coveredplate-holding board by means of rubber cement, gummed paper ormechanical fastenin s.

The. plate-holding board 8 is now placed in the plate-holding frame 10and locked in position by the locking means. Clutch 66 is released, andclutch .74 is engaged, lndex pm 96 and locking means 30 on the bottomframe .52.0 are released; bottom frame 20 is then operated to apredetermined initial prlnting position byopera'ting the motor throughthe reverse starting switch. Locking means 30 and index pin 96 arereengaged and the bottom frame 20 is then ready-for printing. Clutch 74is then engaged, index pin 96*,

and locking means 32, on'top frame 17 are released, top frame 17 is thenoperated to the predetermined initial position by operating the motorthrough the forward or reverse starter switches, after which the indexpin 96 and locking means 32 are reengaged and the top frame 17 is thenin position to print. Clutch'74 is disengaged, and clutch 66 is engaged,so as to lower the plate-holding frame 10 by operating the motor throughthe forward starting swltch. The motor is automatically stopped when theframe reaches its proper position by a switch 9 and through a stoppingmeans 98 mounted on cam shafts 21.

'Theplate is nowin osition to be printed on and. is brought in intimatecontact with the negative by means of the pressure head 47. Asuitable-light is placed under the central opening 3, and the lightshutter 40 is manually opened to allow the light to act on thesensitized plate through the negative 6; and after asuflicient exposurehas been made the light shutter 40 is closed and pressure head released.The plate-holding frame 10 is then raised by operating the m0- tor withthe reverse starting switch and un* .der similar adjustments lowered.The motor is stopped automatically at the limit of its upward movementby a switch 10'.

The index pin 96 and locking means 30 of the bottom frame 20 are thendisengaged and the bottom frame is again moved to the next printingposition by the means previously explained, after which operation theindex pin 96 and locking means 30 are reengaged.

The plate-holding frame 10 isagain lowered in the same manner aspreviousl described, pressure head- 47 is reengaged and light shutter 40is opened and another print is made. I

A series of prints are made until the full length of the plate isreached, it being necessary to go through the same routine for eachprint and when the last-print is completed ter 40. is closed thepressure head 47 is disengaged and plate-holding frame 10 raised.

The top frame 17 is now operatedby disenanother line of prints isstarted. From now,

until the opposite end of the plate is reached, the bottom frame ismoved for each succeeding printing position. When the end of the plateis reached, another step I up is made by moving the top frame 17 by aswitch 18 bottom to their -initial positions,

after which the bottom frame 20 is used until the opposite end of theplate is again reached, and these operations are repeated until therequired number of prints have been made on the sensitized plate. Shoulditbe necessary to change the negative 6while printing on the sensltizedplate, the following operations are required:

Disengage the pressure head 47, raise plate-holding frame 10, disengagelocking lever 87, freeing negative slide 4, disengage clutch 74, engageclutch 66, and operate motor through reverse starting switch. The switch17 automatically stops' motor when the negative slide 4 reaches theoutside limit of its movement.- The negative 6 is then changed and thenegative slide 4 returned to its printing position by operating themotor through the forward starting switch.

The motor is then automatically stopped and the negative slide 4 hasreached its rinting position, as previously described. he locking lever87 is then reengaged, the plate-holding frame 10 lowered, pressure head4C7 engaged, light shutter 40 is manually opened, and a print can againbe made. These prescribed movements can only be made when the respectivemechanical and electrical interlocks are clear and when all interferenceto the operation of either of the units is properly eliminated, asheretofore fully described.

The operation of the top frame 17 and rame 20 can also be reversed fromthat described, if found advisable. After the required number of printshave been made on the sensitized plate, the top frame 17 and bottomframe 20 are returned the plate-holding board 8 is removed and anothersensitized plate attached thereto, after which it is again placed inposition and a duplicate plate printed from the same negative.

The negative 6 is only removed after a sufficient quantity of duplicateplates are printed frpm the original. When changing the negative 6 it isnecessary to return the his signature.

negative slide 4 to its initial position in the manner heretoforedescribed.

All the movements of the various umts as described, can also be manuallyoperated if desired. The clutches operating these units must, however,be disengaged and all interference eliminated, the same as required whenoperated by power.

The relative position of the plates and negatives when 0 erated bypower-driven means may be fina y adjusted by the manual operation. Amost desirable feature where very accurate work is involved. The motorsused in my 0 eration, and as explained above, are of t e ordinaryreversing type, and the forward and reverse starting switches are of themomentary contact type, so that the mechanism operates only when theswitches are being manually held in contact. In larger motors thenecessary starters, etc., are provided as is common in such practice,and concerning switches, motors, and starters, I claim nothing, theybeing of-the well known, ordinary type.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure byLetters Patent is:

1. An organized printing device for multiplicity duplication, comprisinga table, a negative slide having a negative mounted thereon mounted forlongitudinal travel on said table, electrical controllin means formoving said slide to a definite position, manual means for completingthe movement of said slide, a plate holder, means for v erticallyoperating said plate holder relative to said slide, said means beinginoperative during the movement of the negative slide, and means forlocking the negative slide in fixed position whereby said plate holdermay be moved. Y 2. An organized printing device formultiplicityduplication, comprising a table, a negative slide longitudinal y movableon said table, electrical controlling means for moving said slide to apredetermined position, manual means for completing the movement of saidslide, a plate holding means superposed above said negative slide,electrical means controlling the movement of said plate holding means,said plate holding controlling means being inoperative when saidnegative slide is being operated, and means to control the movement ofsaid ing means after said negative sli e has been properly positioned.

testimony whereof he hereunto aflixes LOUIS H. ZEUN.

late holdsaid starting

